The hotel was unreal.
Tall glass towers that caught the sun like crystals, fountains that danced to music, and ceilings so high it felt like the clouds lived inside them.
Lian stepped out of the cab, her lanyard brushing against her chest. The logo read: Vance tech International Internship Exchange UK x Paris.
She tried not to gape. She really did. But the entrance lobby alone looked like it could host a royal wedding.
Around her, interns buzzed laughing, chatting, taking pictures. They came from all over, including Paris. Sharp suits. Perfect makeup. Designer clothes
And there was her…in her best outfit, not fancy, not suitable candidate the occasion but it was presentable.
Chloe was beside her, clutching her bag. Her face said she was impressed, but not intimidated. Lian wished she could borrow that confidence.
But her thoughts didn't stay on the decor for long.
She hadn't seen him.
Not once.
Salim.
Neither he nor Red had stepped out with them. She'd asked one of the coordinators casually if everyone had arrived. The woman had simply smiled and said, "The executive team has their own entrance."
Of course they did.
VVIP.
She felt ridiculous for expecting anything else.
She turned to Chloe, who was scanning the crowd. "Maybe we'll get to ask questions later during the conference segment," Lian offered.
Chloe just nodded without replying. She was unusually quiet.
----
Later that evening, the welcome gala was held on the rooftop.
Soirées
Lights strung across the space like stars. A live jazz band played in the background, waiters moved with trays of hors d'oeuvres and sparkling drinks.
Lian stood with a glass of non-alcoholic wine, half-listening to a French intern talk about the company's AI advancements.
Then someone stepped up beside her.
"Bonsoir."
She turned. The guy was tall, confident, dressed like he belonged on the cover of a business magazine. Piercing blue eyes and a smirk that said he'd never been told no.
"I'm Pierre." His accent made it sound like poetry. "And you are... the girl everyone's been whispering about."
Lian blinked. "They're whispering?"
"Of course. You're the intern who caught the attention of Alaric Vance."
Her heart thudded.
She smiled politely. "Yeah lucky me."
"That is no small thing."
Pierre talked fast. About his father's company, about their jet, about a luxury AI prototype no one else had access to. Lian tried to keep up, but she was bored.
She didn't care about yachts or investment portfolios. She wanted to talk about ideas, change, ambition. Pierre's world wasn't exciting it was empty.
She scanned the rooftop.
And froze.
There he was.
Salim.
Standing beside a girl.
Not just any girl she was breathtaking. Slim and poised, with straight black hair cascading down her back. She laughed at something Salim said. He smiled. Not just politely he laughed too.
It wasn't forced.
Lian didn't even realize she'd been staring until Pierre followed her gaze.
"Ah, the golden boy," he said. "You know him well?"
"No," she said too quickly. "Not really."
" You don't look impressed, our conversation " He asked
"Im not easily impressed" She replied
"Good " He replied lifting a class to his lips
"Means your not boring"
They talked
Well he talked
She turned to salim and he was indulging more in their conversation
maybe that moment hadn't really meant anything to him.
He didn't look for her. He didn't care.
Just that once he did and nothing again
He had a world. A status. And she didn't fit in it.
She reminded herself: You're just an intern.
Nothing more.
---
From across the rooftop, Salim saw her.
He watched the way she tilted her glass but barely sipped. The way her smile didn't quite reach her eyes when Pierre leaned closer.
He didn't approach.
He couldn't.
Not here. Not in front of his peers, his father's partners, the media eyes. The rules were unspoken but rigid. He was Vance Tech's heir. She was an intern.
And yet…
He remembered her fingers brushing his, the softness in her voice when she said that prayer, the way her eyes met his like she wasn't afraid to see what others missed.
He remembered everything.
But this wasn't the place.
He needed to ask. But not now. Not here.
Back on the other side of the rooftop, Chloe stood alone.
No one approached her.
No one complimented her work or asked for her opinion. It had always been like this, but tonight…it burned.
Lian had it all the praise, the curiosity, the strange magnetism. Even now, Pierre was beside her. And before him, Salim Vance.
Why did Lian get to shine while she stood in the shadows?
Why did Lian always win?
Chloe's hand curled around her glass. A thought sparked sudden, dark, and persistent.
She's taken everything.
But not anymore.
She was done pretending.
She was going to remind Lian that every star can fall.
Outside, the rooftop was nearly empty. Lian stood by the railing, phone pressed to her ear.
"Hey," she said softly when her brother was given the phone
"Lian?" His voice sounded distant but warm. "You okay?"
She hesitated. "Yeah. Just needed to hear someone real."
He chuckled. "Don't tell me you're starstruck."
"Not exactly." She looked out at the skyline. "This place… It's another world."
"Then walk through it like you belong. You worked hard to get there, remember?"
She smiled faintly. "I don't always feel like I did
"How has life been over there "
"Good" He replied
She hung up with a steadier breath.
Just as she turned to head inside, Pierre appeared again, leaning casually on the doorframe.
"Intense phone call?" he asked, falling into step beside her.
"Just family."
He grinned. "You have a very mysterious aura, you know. Makes you interesting."
She raised a brow. "Is that your way of saying I'm quiet?"
He laughed. "No. It's my way of saying I'd like to spend more time with you."
She tilted her head. "what are you driving at?"
"I'm asking if you'd like to hang out tomorrow. Explore the city. Good food, good places."
Lian hesitated. "I'll think about it," she said honestly. "I don't know what tomorrow holds yet. We have schedules."
Pierre only smiled. "Then I'll wait for your answer tomorrow."
Back at the room her and Chloe were given to share.
Lian collapsed onto her bed, tossing her shoes to the floor. Chloe was scrolling on her phone.
"You're glowing," Chloe teased, not looking up.
"I saw myself in the lobby mirror," Lian said dryly. "Definitely not glowing."
Chloe smirked. "So… you and Pierre, huh?"
"Not like that. He asked if I'd like to hang out tomorrow. I said I'd think about it."
Chloe sat up, her expression unreadable. "You should go."
Lian blinked. "Really?"
"Yeah. It'll be fun. Besides, there's nothing major tomorrow morning." She waved a hand dismissively. "Just some meet and greet thing."
Lian frowned. "Are you sure? I thought Salim mentioned something.. "
Chloe cut in quickly. "He's always saying stuff. Go out. Breathe. Enjoy yourself."
Lian relaxed. "Okay… maybe I will."
The next day
Lian hadn't expected any of it.
Pierre took her first to a salon where stylists fussed over her hair like it was royalty. They applied oils, stretched and straightened it, added volume and shine. The result left her blinking at her reflection.
Then the mall.
"No way," she said as Pierre held up a silky navy dress.
"You're trying it," he said firmly.
"I'm not "
"I insist."
By the time she stepped out of the fitting room, she hardly recognized herself. The shoes were light, the bag was designer, the dress hugged her frame without being too tight.
Pierre came up behind her, looking at their reflection.
"Are you impressed?" he asked.
"This is too much. I can't accept it."
He leaned in, voice low. "Don't you like what you look like now?"
She couldn't answer. Not with words.
Meanwhile
The grand conference hall buzzed with excitement. Interns sat in rows. Salim stood off to the side beside Red, arms crossed.
Then Charlie Larmoth, head of all Vance Tech branches took the stage.
"I've reviewed your proposals," he said. "Five stood out."
He began calling names. When he got to the fourth, he paused.
"Lian Jamiel."
Silence.
Charlie frowned. "Lian Jamiel… is she not here?"
No reply.
"This is disappointing. Are the UK interns this sloppy, Or does Miss Jamiel take her work for granted . Since she's absent, we will offer the spot to the next in line."
Chloe's name was called.
She stood. Calm. Confident. Smiling like she knew it was hers all along.
Red glanced at Salim.
His jaw was tight.
Later, he confronted Chloe. "Where's Lian?"
She smiled sweetly. "With Pierre. Out somewhere."
Salim's expression darkened.
He'd told them. All of them. Be punctual. Be professional. Don't embarrass the team.
But she'd gone off. Again. Was it because he'd been softer with her? Was she taking his attention for granted?
That Evening
Lian returned, shopping bags in hand, hair still perfect, heels clicking lightly on the marble.
She found Chloe sitting by the window.
"You will not believe the day I had " she started.
Chloe looked up. "Salim wants to see you."
Lian froze. "What?"
Chloe shrugged. "He asked where you were. I told him. He didn't look happy."
Lian sat slowly on her bed. "What does he want now?"
Chloe grinned, brushing invisible lint from her sleeve. "You'll have to go and find out."